Indian Government Pressed
on Human Rights Situation by Leading British Asians

Press ReleaseJuly 30th, 2002

Leading members of Britain's Asian community are
meeting on India's Independence Day (August 15th) to consider measures
to foster reconciliation between communities in India. They will also
be calling on the Delhi government to act more firmly against the abuse
of human rights in India.

"It is time for the silent majority to speak up over events in Gujarat .
The Indian Government must allow full access to all who are seeking to
establish the truth, especially the human rights agencies. We have nothing
to hide," says Dr Prem Sharma, Chairman of India Development Trust
and a leading member of Britain's Asian community.

Dr Sharma will be one of the speakers at: INDIAN INDEPENDENCE? HEALING THE WOUNDS
A Conference on Human rights and Minorities in India
August 15th, 2002 at the Gandhi Hall, Indian YMCA

The conference has been organised by a group of British
Asian business and charity leaders with the aim of highlighting issues
of human rights abuse in Gujarat and their relevance to human rights and
the treatment of minorities in India. It will also seek to analyse and
reflect on the causes of conflict and look for practical ways to bring
truth and reconciliation between different groups, both in India and the
Diaspora.

"Our aim is not to polarise but to acknowledge and condemn communalism,
whichever side it comes from, " comments Dr Sharma. "But this
conference is not just to formulate principles which all will easily agree
on. We need to take the message out to the field, to where people are,
in their local communities, to help them deal with the issues there."